Minority boycotts vetting of Techiman South MP

Members of the Minority on the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday (June 11, 2021) boycotted the vetting of Member of Parliament (MP) for Techiman South, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah.

He was being vetted for the position of Deputy Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.

This follows the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s refusal to recognise him as a legitimately elected MP due to the violence that characterized the collation of results in the constituency during the 2020 polls.

The NDC is currently in court challenging the declaration of Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah as the winner of that election.

The party is accusing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of using violence to deny the NDC the majority party in parliament.

According to the minority leader in parliament, Haruna Idrissu, the government has shown no interest in the matter.

“We have a strong view that through the use and the misuse of the state security apparatus and the security agencies he procured the seat through violence. With violence resulted in the loss of lives”

“There has been no investigation, there has been no visit by the Minister for Defence, Minister for Interior, to commiserate, sympathize and console with the family no even a compensation of the family for those valuable lives that were lost”, he added.

But, Korsah in response to a question when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament,  said a four-bedroom house is being put up for the family of one of the persons who lost their lives in the area during the 2020 general elections.

“We have decided to provide some shelter for the family because it was their wish so a four-bedroom house will be put up for them”, he revealed.

He added that he is collaborating with the families of the rest to meet the points of their needs.

Two persons died in the Techiman South Constituency during the 2020 election violence while six others were injured.

In addition, the MP said he paid for the hospital bills of the other victims who were hospitalised.

“For those who got injured, some hospital bills are being paid to support them.”

He said measures are being put in place to secure justice for the persons who suffered the brutalities in the area.

“We have taken a number of steps to understand exactly what happened and seek justice for those who were affected so that it doesn’t repeat itself.”

He also described the incident as a sad one, which he noted should not have happened.

“The event, as sad as it was, has brought us together. I personally as the father of the constituency have taken some measures to support the family to cushion them. One young man lost his life, the parents are sitting behind me in support of my vetting. That is the peace we want in Techiman South.”

“What happened is one very unfortunate incident that characterized our election in Techiman South. We had engaged in a campaign devoid of tensions, acrimony, and there was so much unity among the parties. The election came to a close, and just at the very end which was the declaration point, there were some misunderstandings, and a confrontation ensued between some of my constituents and the security agencies leading to this unfortunate”, he stressed.

Related articles:

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Techiman South NPP express confidence in MP

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